Wednesday, August 7, 2002

Did chief's chase policy handicap PTC police?

When Luthersville police officers chased a suspect through Peachtree City at speeds over 100 mph July 27, city police officers blocked major intersections to try to make sure no innocent bystanders were hurt, according to Chief James Murray.

Freshmen to report 1 year early for new high school

Students at the county's newest and still unbuilt high school will start classes next year at the county's oldest ex-high school. And that means attendance lines for many of Fayette County's high school students will change a year earlier than expected.

BOE tags extra funds for Sandy Creek, MHS

The Fayette County Board of Education has some extra money and is going to spend it by expanding one high school and building an auditorium at another.

Charges of 'election politics' brandished by all sides in open meetings dispute

Fayette County primary election politics, timing and the Georgia open meetings law collided last week, leaving a Tyrone councilman fuming and a state court solicitor framing the issue as political rather than legal.

Citizens urged to offer input on transportation plan

Fayette's future transportation plans will be on view Thursday night for interested residents.

Georgia's top court overrules judge's order to rezone land commercial for Tyrone shopping center

The Georgia Supreme Court has sided with Tyrone town officials in a legal dispute with a developer wanting to build a shopping center off Ga. Highway 74 with a 50,000-plus sq. ft. grocery store.

School board sells surplus land

The Fayette County Board of Education approved Monday evening a deal that would bring in more than $360,000 for the sale of surplus land.

NFCA sets candidate forum

The North Fayette Community Association is hosting a candidate forum Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 7-9 p.m. at North Fayette Elementary School, 609 Kenwood Road in Fayetteville.

Car engulfed in flames nearly rolls onto Hwy. 54 at rush hour in Fayetteville

A hot-and-heavy car fire nearly turned into a rolling traffic hazard on Ga. Highway 54 late Thursday afternoon during the afternoon drive home for many motorists.

Cleland aide speaks to Kiwanis

Fayetteville resident H. Wayne Howell spoke to the Fayette Metro Kiwanis recently about various current issues in Washington, D.C.

Fayette's new and veteran principals ready to get started

Due to the opening of two new schools and retirements, many Fayette County schools will start off the new academic year Aug. 12 with a new principal at the helm.

Fayetteville council OK's Pine Trail intersection improvements

The Fayetteville City Council moved ahead last week with plans to modify the intersection of Ga. Highway 85 and Pine Trail Road, hoping to alleviate traffic concerns near Fayette Pavilion.

Another major motion picture in Fayette

Is Fayette County the next New York City? The answer might be yes when you consider that Fayette County is being used for the filming of its second major motion picture in less than a year.

Habitat house built in a week

A host of volunteers from three Peachtree City churches have just completed a Habitat for Humanity house in College Park that will soon be home to a local family.

Racial slur allegations to be discussed at NAACP meeting

The Fayette NAACP Branch will meet at the Olivet Baptist Church Saturday, Aug. 10, at 4:00 p.m. The temporary change of meeting place is due to the unavailability of Flat Rock AME Church.

Meet candidate for Georgia State School Superintendent Mitchell Kaye

Scott and Amanda Gilbert invite the community to their home on Thursday, Aug. 8, between the hours of 5:30-7:30 p.m. to meet Mitchell Kaye, candidate for Georgia State School Superintendent.

Registrar classes set

A class for deputy registrars will be conducted Aug. 27 and Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. at the Fayette County Board of Elections office, 140 Stonewall Avenue, Suite 208, in Fayetteville.

Chambliss in Tyrone Fri.

Voters in Fayette County are invited to meet one-on-one with U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss, now a candidate for U.S. Senate, Friday at a fundraiser at The Barn in Tyrone.

Spaghetti dinner and silent auction to raise funds for local girl

Samantha Caldwell and her sister, Nicole, were born prematurely at 24 weeks. Nicole is a typical, healthy three-year-old but Samantha had an interventricular hemorrhage when she was less than two weeks old and now suffers from multiple disabilities.

Benefit set for Aug. 23 at Hollingsworth House

A dessert and slient auction to benefit a local transplant hopeful is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hollingsworth House in Fayetteville.

Irvin speaks in Fayette

Bob Irvin, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, was in town last week to talk to supporters and undecided voters.

Police Blotter

Correction

In the church directory of the Fall/Winter 2002/2003 Fact Finder, the address of Holly Grove AME Church was incorrectly stated.

Correction

In the Fall/Winter 2002/2003 Fact Finder it was stated that driver's license tests are given at the county's Stonewall Village Complex. That has changed. The State Patrol Driver's License office has moved to 278 McElroy Road, Fayetteville.

Prime Timers

Smolas balance family, work, community involvement

 

Janet and Mike Smola just recently tipped over into the Prime Timer ranks. Like many in their 50s, the pair juggles the responsibilities of children and work. However, the Smolas' commitment to the community adds an extra bit to their busy lives.

Auction scheduled for Aug. 17

The Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club will host the First Annual Auction for Autism and Alzheimer's Saturday, August 17th. The club is asking the public to help in raising money to support the Unlocking Autism Chapter and the Alzheimer's Research Trust Fund.

Carpet softens the impact

Census numbers continue to show that the numbers of mature adults in the United States is soaring. More studies are being done that show the quality of life and well-being of mature adults can be greatly enhanced by adapting the environment to meet their needs

Plan your estate, or the state will do it for you

There are certain things that you must do to take care of yourself and your family. One such responsibility is planning for what will happen to your assets when you die.

Seniors finding benefits they might have missed

Many seniors use the Internet for playing games, e-mailing a grandchild, researching family history, or checking the weather. But it can also be a powerful tool for tracking down important information.

National seniors group names president/CEO

Barbara B. Kennelly, who represented Connecticut's 1st Congressional District for eight terms and served as counselor to the commissioner of Social Security, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Sample and Sanborn jazz up 'The Fred"

The second part of the summer concert series at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater kicked off two weeks ago with a concert from country and pop star Glen Campbell. This weekend, "The Fred" kicks back with the jazz sounds of Joe Sample and David Sanborn.

Gallopade International has new series of books about "Heroes and Helpers"

After Sept. 11, the word "hero" took on new meaning. Instead of famous movie stars or athletes, heroes were now firefighters and police officers, men and women who put their life on the line on an everyday basis in order to protect others. Gallopade International, an educational publisher based in Peachtree City, has a new series of books for children about everyday heroes called "Heroes and Helpers."

NCT presents rollicking comedy "I Hate Hamlet"

"I Hate Hamlet."

Mike versus the big, green monster

Call me Ishmael. Heck, just call me bushed.

Movies

Religion

Early to bed and early to rise ... hey! It really works
By JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

Get out of that bed and rattle those pots and pans. It's time to rise and shine. Get up, Johnny; you have to go to school.

Olivera will be speaker at Women's Aglow August meeting

New Fayetteville resident Leann Olivera will be the guest speaker at this month's meeting of Women's Aglow International, Peachtree City Chapter, Monday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. Olivera and her family recently moved to Fayetteville from Massachusetts.

Religion Briefs

National Heights to host estate planning seminar

National Heights Baptist Church will host a free estate planning seminar conducted by Pyke & Pierce, attorneys at law, Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 7-9 p.m. Some of the topics to be discussed include trusts and wills, health maintenance, protecting inherited assets, minimizing estate taxes, and protecting estates of incapacitated persons.

Opinion

Our forum next week will have a limitation

For the past several weeks, The Citizen has offered free of charge opportunity for local political candidates and their supporters and detractors to present their views in our Letters to the Editor section.

If there's a baseball strike, whose fault is it?
By MONROE ROARK
mroark@thecitizennews.com

Nearly everyone who actually cares about whether major league baseball players will go on strike this season has also chosen whom to blame for it.

Back to school: Good, bad, ugly
By BILLY MURPHY
Laugh Lines

It's time for kids to go to school and that is both good and bad; good for parents, bad for the kids. So to honor these good and bad days, I offer everything you need to know about school, the good and bad (and sometimes the ugly).

Getting the hang of hailing an NYC taxi
By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@thecitizennews.com

I was privileged last month to attend the auction of "Gone With The Wind" items being sold by owner Herb Bridges of Sharpsburg at Christie's in New York. At 20 Rockefeller Center, to be exact.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Family of crash victim: Declare chase moratorium

This is from the family of Chuck Vicha, who was murdered in the high-speed chase [July 27]. Today [Aug. 3] we buried our beloved Chuck. What a senseless way to die. He was a good and upstanding citizen of the community.

Fayette dispatcher has 'rest of the story': Many PTC cops had no state-band radios

I work for Fayette 911 and I think more should be known about Chief Murray's radio and scanner policies. The chase that occurred July 27 was reported by an off-duty Peachtree City officer who heard the chase on his personal scanner.

Veteran paramedic: Curb the high-speed pursuits

On July 27, my life changed. Spending over 30 years as an EMT/paramedic in New York State and a career with the criminal justice system did not prepare me for what I saw.

I totally agree with [Peachtree City Police] Chief [Jim] Murray. I am a graduate of the University of Alabama Law Enforcement Academy (1985) with a POST certificate for the state of Alabama, and was a deputy sheriff for 17 years.

Let's ban all chases; keep cops out of all neighborhoods

I used to live in Peachtree City years ago, and couldn't resist the urge to comment on the suggestion of Chief Murray of the PTC Police Department to restrict high-speed chases because of the possibility of injuries to both innocent bystanders and police officers.

Chase cops equally guilty

Allowing any police to race through the streets, no matter how highly trained they are, is dangerous due to their lack of control over the other traffic. In addition, the suspects that are being chased have been forced by guilt to drive so recklessly as to cause extreme damage to the community. The suspects may be murderers, or thieves, or on drugs and not willing to exercise caution for others, but they will eventually need to stop for gas or try to hide.

Wheat: County should update land use plan

We saw only one attack letter on Mike last week, but our opponent did offer his position on preserving our county's historical assets. We learned that city foot-dragging forced Mike's opponent to bulldoze the Dorsey house rather than take any action or offer to work with the city to save it. We wonder if he removed the Dorsey house from the paper inventory as quickly?

If Bost is writing checks ...

It's good to see Harold Bost's name back in the news, and I am glad to see he is doing so well he was able to contribute $2,000 to Greg Dunn's campaign.

Vote in some new blood

Who will I vote for this year?

Trust Wheat to bring back insider deals for buddies

No, Mike Wheat, we have not forgotten.

Wheat would cooperate, but with developers, MARTA

First, let me make a statement. I am not part of Fayette County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn's campaign. I do not know Mr. Dunn and he does not know me. All I know is what I have seen in the past.

Beware of 'Mikey will eat anything commercial'

I will vote for Linda Wells [and] Greg Dunn for commissioner. They have upheld the land use plan more than any commissioners since we have been in this county, now over 35 years.

Will the 'real' Thomas Stephens identify himself

Recall the once popular TV show, "To Tell the Truth." Three different people claimed to be the same person. A panel of celebrities asked various questions in an attempt to determine which of the three was who they purported to be.

Cooperation was the theme of Sprayberry-Burrell board

Each time I have run for office the two questions I am most often asked are, "Can you make the hard decisions?" and, "Will you hold the line on growth?" I have worked hard to prove that I am indeed capable of making those decisions that might not always be popular or personally expedient. As a result, my opponents' main platform seems to be that, unlike me, they will be a "team player," get along with others, or that they will single-handedly end the disagreement between the County Commission and the cities.

Vote Stephens, Wheat to turn Fayette into 'Gwinnett South'

Make no mistake; this County Commissioner's race is all about money, power and control.

Remember flag votes of Kathy Cox, Bob Irvin

As we draw near another primary election, I want to remind my fellow voters that claim to be Republicans that they should remember those Republican legislators that helped Gov. Roy Barnes shove through the changing of our state flag.

F'ville development has caused traffic problems

I read with great interest recently an article written by Fayetteville's Mayor Ken Steele. The article stated that Fayetteville's traffic congestion is a regional problem. Apparently, Mayor Steele had a conversation with a friend that made the following comment, "We do not have a traffic problem in Fayetteville." He proceeded explaining that it was a regional problem because Ga. highways 85, 54, 314, and 92 all come together in Fayetteville.

F'ville Council is arrogant

Sometimes it takes an outsider to see what others can't. I applaud Lucille Pointe for her outspokenness against our City Council.

Time short for mayor to prove he can govern city

Let me state up front that I voted for Steve Brown. His interest and enthusiasm contrasted sharply with what I saw as a self-serving incumbent "club" that addressed its special interests when making their decisions. He had a prime opportunity to build from his strong mandate and bring the citizens and council together to improve how city government was run.

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